I am sorry to report on the passing of our good and dear friend Richard "Dick" Melville.

Dick was Chairman of the Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation.

Dick was a special person, one whom I admired and respected. He was an down to earth type of guy, what many of us refer to as "good people."

When the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was turned over to the American Lighthouse Foundation, Dick was the first to step forward to lead a chapter. He worked diligently in forming the chapter and finding and training dedicated volunteers.

He led the way in opening the lighthouse to the general public on a regular basis making it the first land based lighthouse on the coast of Maine to be open to the public at scheduled times.

He led the way in the battle for a Maine lighthouse quarter, which eventually happened with the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse adorning it.

He worked hard in helping to make the ceremony dedicating the quarter a success with people from all over the world in attendance.

As well as being involved in the American Lighthouse Foundation as a chapter president, he was president of the Round Top Center for the Performing Arts and also led that group to new heights.

I spoke with his wife Angela a few minutes ago and we reflected on our first meeting and how much Dick loved the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. In fact yesterday Dick and Angela spent an hour at the lighthouse basking in the warm sun, which is unusual at Pemaquid Point this time of the year in Maine. A few hours later, at 8 p.m. last night, he passed away.

The funeral will be at St. Andrews Church, but the time and date has not yet been set. When the time and date are confirmed, it will be posted on the American Lighthouse Foundation web site at www.LighthouseFoundation.org.

Cards can be sent to his wife at the address below. Even if you don't know her, you could send the card by simply stating that you are a friend from the lighthouse community.

Angela Melville
P. O. Box 125
Bristol, Maine 04539

Please do not send flowers. Angela has requested in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the American Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 889, Wells, ME 04090 marked for the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse or to the Round Top Center for the Arts, P.O. Box 1316, Damariscotta, ME 04543

Unfortunately, I am away from home and the office and I do not have most of my e-mail addresses at this location. I would request that those who get this e-mail to please forward this e-mail on to others in the lighthouse community who you think might want to be aware of Dick's untimely passing.

Tim Harrison
American Lighthouse Foundation

I met Dick Melville a couple of times and communicated with him on occasion via email, and he was absolutely a genuinely nice man. He will be greatly missed by the lighthouse community and all who knew him.

I am very saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our dear friend Dick Melville. A couple of things that you couldn't help but notice in Dick were his enthusiasm and his friendliness. He did a fantastic job at the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, setting up the Friends of Pemaquid Point Light and gathering a good group of volunteers who kept the light open for visitors on a regularly scheduled basis. Dick played a major role in the Maine State Quarter Ceremony, where people came from all over the country to this historic lighthouse. Dick was a good friend of the Lighthouse Community and he will be missed by one and all!

I am sorry to hear about Dick's passing. The lighthouse community has lost one more dedicated and loyal lover of the lights, who's shoes will be difficult to fill. I didn't know the man but had heard and read about his achievements on numerous occasions.
My thoughts and prayer's go out to his family.

Brent

P.S. I am glad to hear that he and his wife had the opportuntiy to go out and visit Pemaquid LH before his passing!